Express & Star

Wolves great Ted Farmer: I’d love a Romelu Lukaku

Wolves would benefit from a top class target man, according to old gold and black striker Ted Farmer.

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Ted Farmer

Farmer believes the current crop need someone in the mould of Romelu Lukaku to lead the line in the Premier League.

Farmer, aged 78, was coming through the ranks at the time Stan Cullis was manager and Billy Wright was captain.

Speaking to the Express & Star, he said: “The Wolves team today, they are a very good passing team. They have done a great job.

“But I think they are missing a powerful centre forward. That is where I think they are short. You hear of Romelu Lukaku. Wolves are lacking a power player in the centre forward position.

“They pass well and they are looking very good. I am glad they are back there. Whether or not they will achieve the heights that we achieved ever again, I don’t know.”

Wolves were one of the best teams in England and the world during the 1950s, winning the old First Division three times in that decade alongside the FA Cup in 1960.

Farmer, who hails from Rowley Regis and now lives in Bridgnorth, scored more than 300 goals for Wolves across all age groups during his career, which was cut short through injury at age 24 in 1964. He scored four goals in the second-leg of the FA Youth Cup final in 1958 against Jimmy Greaves’ Chelsea; helping Wolves overturn a 5-1 deficit to win 7-6.

Asked about if Wolves will do well in the Premier League next season, or at least survive, he said: “It’s nothing to do with surviving.

“I mean now there is three leagues in one. There’s the top four, there’s the middle six and there’s the bottom lot. And if you can avoid the bottom three, you are a success. It is crazy. They (most teams) are not playing to win the league, there is only four teams or three teams that can win the league every year.

“That is because of the money. It is not level. It is topsy-turvy with three leagues in one.”

While Farmer believes Wolves need a big target man, the club have snapped up Mexican striker Raul Jimenez on loan from Benfica during the summer transfer window.

The 27-year-old will be a boost to Wolves’ attacking line in their first campaign back in the Premier League. Wolves have also signed Portugal goalkeeper Rui Patricio on a four-year deal after he cancelled his contract with Sporting Lisbon after being targeted by a group of ultras.